Census in India: Constitutional Basis and Process
22-04-2023
1 min read
What’s in today’s article?
- Why in news?
- Census in India
- What is the Legal/Constitutional basis of Census in India?
- What is the Process of census enumeration?
- Some of the features of upcoming census
- News Summary: Covid, LS polls set to delay 2021 Census by at least 3 years
- Requirements before Census exercise
Why in news?
- India’s Census enumeration that was scheduled to take place in 2021 has been pushed to 2024-25 until further orders.
- The exercise, including extensive fieldwork, was postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020.
Census in India
- Population Census provides basic statistics on state of human resources, demography, culture and economic structure at local, regional and national level.
- Beginning in the year 1872, when the first census was conducted non-synchronously, the census enumeration exercise in India is carried out in every 10 years.
- The first synchronous census was taken under British rule in 1881, by W.C. Plowden, Census Commissioner of India.
- The responsibility of conducting the decadal census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Ministry of Home Affairs.
What is the Legal/Constitutional basis of Census in India?
- Population census is listed in Union List (entry 69) of Seventh Schedule in Indian Constitution.
- Census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948.
What is the Process of census enumeration?
- The Census Operations in India have been carried out in two phases:
- Houselisting and Housing Census and
- Population Enumeration.
- The Population Enumeration follows the Housing Census within a gap of six to eight months.
- In Population Enumeration phase each person is enumerated and her/his individual particulars like Age, Marital status, Religion, mother tongue etc.
Some of the features of upcoming census
- The ensuing decadal Census of India will be the 16th in series and 8th after independence.
- In the history of Indian Census, for the first time, the Census data will be collected digitally i.e., on Mobile App in the ensuing census.
- Also, self-enumeration facility will be provided for the first time in the forthcoming Census.
News Summary: Covid, LS polls set to delay 2021 Census by at least 3 years
- In a letter sent to all states and Union Territories, the office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) has extended the deadline of freezing of administrative boundaries to June 30, 2023.
- The Census enumeration can begin only a few months after administrative boundaries are frozen.
- However, with the General Election scheduled early next year, the possibility of this exercise taking place this year stands ruled out.
Requirements before Census exercise
- Before every Census, every state is required to provide information to the Registrar General of India (RGI) on changes in the number of notified districts, villages, towns and other administrative units since the previous Census.
- The Registrar General of India is the head of the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner.
- It is responsible for conducting the decennial Census of India and maintaining the Civil Registration System in the country.
- The Registrar General of India serves as the principal advisor to the Government of India on all matters related to the registration of births, deaths, and marriages.
- The office also collects and analyzes demographic and socio-economic data for policy planning and implementation purposes.
- Boundaries of administrative units are frozen three months before the Census exercise begins.
- As per Rule 8(iv) of Census Rules, 1990, the boundaries of the administrative units shall be frozen from the date intimated by the Census Commissioner, which shall not be earlier than one year from the Census reference date.
- In this period, the data is compiled and shared with RGI for preparatory work on the Census.
- Also, Census work is preceded by the house-listing enumeration.
Q1) What was Registrar General of India (RGI)?
The Registrar General of India is the head of the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. It is responsible for conducting the decennial Census of India and maintaining the Civil Registration System in the country. The Registrar General of India serves as the principal advisor to the Government of India on all matters related to the registration of births, deaths, and marriages.
Q2) What is Census?
A census is a systematic collection of demographic, social, and economic data of a population at a given time. It provides important information on the size, distribution, and characteristics of a population, which is essential for governments, businesses, and researchers to make informed decisions and policies.
Source: Covid, LS polls set to delay 2021 Census by at least 3 years | Census India